WH: 'We Want to See Concrete Actions from China’

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Screenshot)

(CNSNews.com) - While the White House is “encouraged” by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “kind words” about reducing tariffs on auto imports, the administration said Tuesday that it wants to see “concrete action.”

“Certainly, we are encouraged by President Xi's words and his kind words, but at the same time, we want to see concrete actions from China, and we're going to continue moving forward in the process and in the negotiations until those happen,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.

When asked what specific actions the White House wants to see from China and what they could do to stave off U.S. tariffs at this point, Sanders said, “This is going to be something that's part of private negotiations that we have with the Chinese, but certainly, we want to see more than just the rhetoric, but we think that's a very good sign in moving in the right direction.”

As CNSNews.com reported, Xi said in a keynote speech to the Boao Forum for Asia conference that “China does not seek trade surplus.”

“We have a genuine desire to increase imports and achieve greater balance of international payments under the current account,” Xi added.

Trump thanked Xi, tweeting Thursday, “Very thankful for President Xi of China’s kind words on tariffs and automobile barriers...also, his enlightenment on intellectual property and technology transfers. We will make great progress together!”

When asked whether the White House feels there will actually be concrete actions as it relates to trade, Sander said, “Again, we certainly hope so. We think this is an encouraging step in the right direction, but at the same time, we're going to continue moving forward in the actions that the president has announced, and hopeful that we see something come out of the Chinese government.”